Dogs whine to communicate they are afraid, upset, uncomfortable, in pain, or lonely. But whining also can be a ploy for attention and control.

If whining is a rare occurrence, check if the dog is sick or injured. If whining is the result of your dog feeling great discomfort (such as being wet or afraid), it’s fairly simple to address the problem. But if your dog whines just to boss you around — similar to scratching at the door — your goal is to ignore it so that it isn’t rewarded. If that doesn’t end whining over time, add the “No” command, and reward the dog after it quits whining.

If even stronger training is needed, squirt or spray water in its face.